under her belt
a lifetime of experience
Outstanding leadership of charitable organisations in environment, housing and poverty fields within the voluntary sector since 1981 / Changed expectations, effectiveness and lives through work as manager, mentor and coach / As CEO & consultant, led multi-layered strategy reviews, successful organisational restructures and effective change management.
Developed and controlled grant-making functions, processes and support of applicants; improved outcomes/ Successful fund development and financial management of organisational budgets, reserves and restricted grant funds / Thriving and productive relationships with stakeholders at all levels from Government Ministers to volunteers.
Accomplished, articulate verbal communicator and writer, able to moderate content, tone and delivery according to size, background and focus of audience / Exceptionally skilled facilitator with capacity for accurate summarising, assessment and related decision making / Focused on achieving transformation through lateral thinking and innovative solutions / Strong co-operative ethic and belief in better decision making through lively debate.
Deep understanding of the demands of good governance from Trustee, Company Secretary and CEO perspectives / Rigorous implementation of the Nolan principles in public life.
making stuff happen
Chair, Big Tree Plant Partnership Board (coalition initiative to plant one million urban trees, 2010-2015)
Close advisor to senior civil servants responsible for pre-launch development, May – August 2010; facilitated collaborative sector input and produced guidance paper that became the touchstone for almost every aspect of the campaign. Instigated provision of new £4m tree-planting grant fund; steered application framework, criteria, post-grant monitoring.
Appointed Chair of the Partnership Board, shaped campaign, drove stakeholder mapping and achieved extensive reach. Obtained sponsorship and steered national and regional promotion to generate applications from diverse communities. Oversaw progress, holding Defra and Forestry Commission to account for commitments. Fund completely allocated and target planting levels overshot, well within timescale. Launched new Tree Council Community Network in order to support applicants, facilitate sustainability & safeguard tree survival rates.
leading sector change
Advisory role on Civil Society 2003 – 2014
vice-chair of first government compact advisory board for six years, then appointed by Defra Secretary of State to new Third Sector Advisory Board and subsequent civil society advisory board. Brief: to facilitate ministerial understanding of the voluntary sector; to guide civil servants in extending and consolidating relationships with civil society organisations; to advise on and facilitate better environmental policy development and the delivery of the Defra Third Sector Strategy.
Appointed Board Lead on Trees & Plant Health; Communications; Local Environment Quality; & Litter. principally Responsible for heightened awareness of tree disease impact, especially Ash Dieback, and developments including initiating Defra position of Chief Plant Health Officer.